Margaret Nyakang'o: Police Arrest Controller Of Budget, 10 Others Over Graft-Related Claims

• Margaret Nyakang'o's arrest in Mombasa follows a 2016 complaint predating her tenure as the Controller of Budget (CoB)
• Nyakang'o's charges were approved by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) before she was arrested
• Earlier, Nyakang'o revealed that the National Treasury tripled her annual salary from the Consolidated Fund Services

Dennis Lubanga, a Kenyan journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than 10 years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Mombasa - Detectives in Mombasa have arrested Controller of Budget (CoB) Margaret Nyakang'o.

The vocal state officer, along with 10 others, is expected to be charged with corruption-related charges.

Nyakang'o's arrest follows a 2016 complaint predating her tenure as CoB.

The charges were approved by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) before she was trailed and arrested in the coastal city.

"We note that the file was first submitted for perusal and advice on July 6, 2022. Upon perusal, we identified some areas that needed to be covered. Vide our letter, Ref. No. ODPP/HQ/CAM/2/000389 dated September 2, 2022, we directed that the said areas be covered," the ODPP said in a statement to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Who are Margaret Nyakang'o's co-accused

Nyakang'o's co-accused include Jackson Ngure Wanjau, Susan Kendi, James Makena Wanyagi, John Muchira Kithaka, Jane Karuu Ndanyi, Muthoni Elphas, Joan Chumo, and Mercy Nduma Mukora.

Others are Gregory Mwangangi Mailu and Michael Kipkurui.

What are the charges levelled against the suspects

The accused persons will be charged jointly with conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code.

They are also accused of operating a sacco without a licence, contrary to Section 24 as read with Section 66 of the Sacco Societies Act, 2008.

Other charges are forgery under c/s 345, as read with Section 349 of the Penal Code, and using a false document under c/s 353 of the Penal Code.

Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that Nyakang'o exposed budgeted corruption in government.

Nyakang'o revealed that the National Treasury tripled her annual salary from the Consolidated Fund Services for the 2023–24 financial year.

How Margaret Nyakang'o exposed the gov't

The CoB spilled the beans on Tuesday, October 31, while appearing before the National Dialogue Committee.

"The exaggerations are in the National Treasury, and let me just give one example. When I was doing the budget for consolidated fund services, this is where my salary is paid. I found out that my salary was budgeted at three times what my annual salary is, and it was like that for all the state officers. I am the only state official in my institution. So, there's nothing like confusion there; I am all alone. So, I asked them why the budget was shown three times. I have not received the answer," she said.

In June, Nyakang'o released the national government budget implementation review report for the first nine months of the financial year 2022–23.

In her report, she revealed that KSh 363.66 billion was processed as salaries through the integrated personnel and payroll database and other approved systems.

However, she noted that KSh 5.66 billion was paid outside the prescribed payroll management system, exposing another scandal.